PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s gasoline prices continued to rise this week, jumping 8 cents to $3.75 in the third consecutive week of price increases, AAA Southern New England said Monday.

The cost of self-serve, unleaded regular averaged $3.75 per gallon in the Ocean State – up 8 cents from last week and up 21 cents over the last month – according to the trade group’s weekly survey of Rhode Island’s pump prices.

Rhode Island’s price is 16 cents greater than the $3.59 national average for a gallon of self-pump, regular unleaded.

AAA recommended drivers shop around for the best deal, as prices ranged 20 cents from $3.66 to $3.86 for a gallon of unleaded regular.

This week, pump prices varied from $3.91 per gallon for midgrade to $4.05 for premium unleaded and $4.14 for diesel. A year ago, gas in the Ocean State cost an average $3.65 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Gas prices in Massachusetts rose 9 cents this week to $3.69 per gallon after jumping 14 cents a week ago, according to AAA.

Massachusetts’ gas prices are up 25 cents over the past month and are currently 10 cents higher than the $3.59 national average.

Bay State gas prices ranged from $3.85 per gallon for midgrade unleaded to $3.97 for premium and $4.11 for diesel. A year ago at this time, the Massachusetts average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.57.

The average nationwide cost for self-serve, regular gasoline rose 7 cents this week to $3.59 a gallon, according to the AAA website. Pump prices reached their highest recorded average price on July 17, 2008, at $4.11 per gallon.

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